Malta is a free country and the Labour Party is not going to be stopped from organising demonstrations against the government, when it feels the time is right to do so. Demonstrations and protests may pile added pressure on an already weather-beaten Administration, and they would most certainly please hard-core party loyalists who would no doubt respond to any call in their thousands. But if the Labour leader, Joseph Muscat, thinks for one moment that such tactics will help him ensure victory at the polls in four years’ time, he may very well be mistaken.
Yes, his persuasive talk may perhaps draw more disgruntled Nationalists to his party, but does he think that demonstrations or street protests will impress the uncommitted voters? So, whoever advised Dr Muscat to take this route was doing the party a disservice, for this is exactly the opposite to what the party ought to do to convince the uncommitted voters that the Partit Laburista is ready to take over from the Nationalist Party.
Alternation of power is the very essence of democracy, but it is only through a free general election that alternation can take place. Until then, the party has to fashion sound policies and gradually show that it is well prepared to take over when the time comes. Right now, Labour is displaying much vim and vigour. Enthusiasm over the prospects of an election victory is quite evident, more so following its success in the European Parliament elections.
The new leader is also managing to build bridges with people who for one reason or another had left the party, and has drawn back to the party Labour supporters who had not voted for it in the 2003 general election. However, much fuss has been made over the move to Labour of Marisa Micallef, a newspaper columnist and former PN candidate, with some going so far in their analysis of the implications as to give the impression that this was almost equal to an MP crossing the floor.
Ms Micallef’s change of political heart and Jason Micallef’s move out of his post of general secretary have been considered as part of the earthquake the party leader had promised. But if these two moves represent an earthquake, a new definition would have to be given to a tremor. However important such moves may be in the internal reform of the party, what will count most is the soundness of the party’s views on matters of vital importance to the country.
At a time when the Nationalists are passing through rough times, it is very easy for Dr Muscat and his party to outshine their opponents. It is easy to criticise, but the race is to the finish and for Labour to win the race they would have to convince the uncommitted voters, the people that count most in an election, that they deserve to take over from the Nationalists when the time comes.
If the Nationalists do not pull up their socks, and they have yet plenty of time within which to do so, Labour could well win by their default, unless they begin to put flesh onto the bones of their boundless rhetoric. They have not done so up to now.
In fact, the situation as it stands is most sad, with the party in government showing strong weaknesses and the party in opposition displaying impatience and hunger for power without as yet showing that it deserves the people’s trust.